Brent Cobb Keeps It Relaxed and Sublime on ‘Southern Star’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

Photo credit: Jace Kartye

On his fifth studio effort, Brent Cobb has never sounded more relaxed. And the calm, self-assured flow of his vocals is not particularly out of place for this always-on-the-cusp-of-making-it-big Americana artist, but there is a laid back flow to Southern Star that is hard to ignore and nearly impossible not to love.

Starting with the opening title track, with Cobb’s confidently unrushed vocals over a strong organ groove, Southern Star sounds like a clarion call from Cobb to ignore Nashville’s musical dictates and trends and just be himself. And the result is simply sublime. Self-produced and recorded in Macon’s legendary Capricorn Sound Studios, you can’t help but think some of the studio’s ghosts – everyone from Otis Redding to the Allman Brothers, all Georgia natives who recorded there – played an influence on some of the songs. Of the title track and the album title, Cobb says “You know how when you’re growing up, you’re told that if you ever get lost out there, look for the northern star to help find direction back home? Well, I’m from Georgia. So, I always look for the southern star. This album, the songs, the sounds… it’s all a product of where I’m from both musically and environmentally.”

You can catch a little of that trademark Macon Southern rock and funk on tracks like “Livin’ The Dream” and “’On’t Know When,” while elsewhere the mellow “Kick The Can” sounds like a Redding cover. Meanwhile, the funk heavy “Devil Ain’t Done” is a stone cold classic and bound to be a show closer for Cobb from here on out.   

Over the years Cobb has written songs for everyone from Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney to Whiskey Myers, among many others. Southern Star is just further proof that he should have taken over the mic from the beginning. Two years ago, Cobb released his first Gospel album and as impressive as it was, it’s great to have Cobb back in the world of Americana. 

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